GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi
GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi
GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi (GAA) is a private, co-educational American international school in Khalifa City A, part of GEMS Education. Established in 2007, its Khalifa City A campus was inaugurated in 2011 by Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. The school teaches from Pre-K to Grade 12 (ages 3-18), teaching the US curriculum (Common Core and Project AERO Common Core Plus standards) throughout. In the senior years it offers four graduation pathways: the American Diploma alone, the American Diploma with AP courses, the American Diploma with a minimum of three IB courses, or the full IB Diploma. Home to 1,846 students from 80+ nationalities, about 57% of them Emirati, it is accredited by CIS and NEASC and authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization. ADEK rates the school Very Good overall, with curriculum design, leadership and management, and the protection and care of students all Outstanding, and Kindergarten teaching Outstanding in the 2024-25 inspection. The Class of 2026 IB Diploma cohort achieved a 100% pass rate and averaged 34 points.
Fees for 2026/2027, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
The school publishes these figures under a 2026/2027 heading, and they are unchanged from the ADEK-approved 2025-2026 schedule for eSIS 9086, which stays in force until ADEK approves a later one. As a Premium School, tuition includes textbooks and supplementary books on loan and materials, including school supplies in the Elementary years. It excludes uniform (ADEK-approved at AED 345), lunches, transport (ADEK-approved at AED 6,000 to 7,500, fee-for-service) and the per-exam charges for Grade 11-12 AP and Grade 12 IB examinations. Refunds require 30 days written notice, with one month's fees retained up to three weeks attended, two months up to six, and a full term beyond that.
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ADEK 2024–2025 inspection
Play-based American early years, rated Outstanding for teaching by ADEK in 2024-25.
US Common Core standards. NWEA MAP benchmarking runs from Grade 1 in two windows each year.
AERO Common Core Plus standards with subject specialists and STEM.
The US High School Diploma with four graduation pathways: the Diploma alone, the Diploma with AP courses, the Diploma with a minimum of three IB courses, or the full IB Diploma. The Class of 2026 IB cohort achieved a 100% pass rate and averaged 34 points.
Six cross-discipline laboratories suitable for chemistry, physics and biology.
A K-12 Makerspace where students from KG1 upwards learn coding and the design process, build robots and work on their units of inquiry. Fitted with a 3D printer.
A design laboratory supporting the school's focus on innovation, alongside the Design Hub.
Three libraries dedicated to Kindergarten, Elementary and Secondary, directed by professionally certified teacher-librarians, holding over 25,000 print and electronic volumes with growing Arabic, French and Spanish collections.
A 500-seat auditorium for performances and whole-school events.
A flexible black box theatre for drama and performance.
Recording studios where students develop recording, mixing and production techniques, alongside a digital music class.
A band room, a choir room and performing arts rooms for different grade levels.
Superintendent/CEO
Joined GEMS American Academy as Superintendent and CEO for the 2026-2027 school year. Previously Founding Headmaster of TASIS Portugal, which he led from concept to becoming the largest school in the TASIS family in six years. He began his career in education in 1987 and has held senior roles at Collingwood School in Vancouver, Lower Canada College in Montreal and Shawnigan Lake School, followed by 13 years in senior administration at Vancouver Island University. He holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Chemistry and a B.Ed. from Queen's University, and an M.Ed. in School Leadership and Supervision from Vancouver Island University.
Deputy Head of School
Executive Vice Principal
Elementary Principal (PreK-Grade 5)
Elementary Assistant Principal (PreK-Grade 5)
Middle School Principal (Grades 6-8)
High School Principal (Grades 9-12)
High School Assistant Principal (Grades 9-10)
High School Assistant Principal (Grades 11-12)
KG - Grade 4 Counsellor
Grades 5-8 Counsellor
High School Counsellor
High School Counsellor
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Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE
